John Hunwick

A map of Egypt easily illustrates why the Sahara Desert is so often called a “sea of sand”. It is enormous and would appear an unwelcome place for a journey, but there are many people who visit the region just to explore the Sahara Desert. Why? Actually the desert is a diverse location full of oases, palm and date groves, hot and cold springs, villages, creatures and remarkable natural wonders.

In order to explore the Sahara Desert safely however, most visitors are encouraged to hire a knowledgeable guide with desert excursion experience. Conditions in the desert are fairly predictable, but someone without the proper equipment and knowledge of the area could easily get lost or into trouble. Luckily there are dozens of companies and travel groups dedicated to serving those who wish to explore the Sahara Desert.

Where should I visit? Many people plan their tour around visits to the five major oases. The farthest and most remote oasis is also one of the most interesting. Near the Libyan border, the Siwa Oasis is an enormous agricultural area which is a major producer of dates and olives. It is also well-known as the location visited by Alexander the Great, where he consulted with the Oracle of Amun in order to confirm his status as the true king of Egypt. Today, Siwa is populated by more than twenty thousand people, mostly Berbers, who live in the many mud-brick houses scattered throughout the area.

Another oasis popular with those who want to explore the Sahara Desert is the Bahariya Oasis. This is a far more modernized oasis than any other, as it is only three hundred kilometers from Cairo and located at the end of a well-made road leading directly out of the city. Visitors today are making the journey in order to watch the exciting and ongoing archeological activity taking place in the oasis. An enormous necropolis was discovered under the sands less than ten years ago, and experts believe over ten thousand mummies are waiting to be found.

Of course anyone who wants to explore the Sahara Desert is not limited to just the oases; there are also many beautiful natural wonders as well. The Farafra Oasis usually hosts visitors who plan to visit the “White Desert” which is a unique area of softer chalk and lime stones that have been worn by the sands and winds into unique shapes and sculptural forms. There is also a distinctive “Black Desert” in this area as well, and most who explore the Sahara Desert make a point of visiting these sites as well as the oases.

Amar Mahallati
http://www.articlesbase.com/destinations-articles/explore-the-sahara-desert-756710.html

This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 16th, 2009 at 11:08 am and is filed under West African and Sahara Studies. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.